Can Travis Head do Cheteshwar Pujara for Australia as hosts fight back?

Australia on Friday bowled India out for 250 in their first innings in the Adelaide Oval Test as the hosts took to crease to face the Indian bowlers. Much to their discomfort, the Aussies too began to lose their wickets in quick succession. Thanks to the spirited bowling attack by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma that India continued to enjoy an upper hand all throughout the second day. Australia finished the day 2 at 191 for 7 with Travis Head remaining not out at 61.

India still have a lead of 59 runs in their first innings with experts now speculating if Head could emulate the batting prowess of India’s Cheteshwar Pujara, who went on to play the knock of 123 against all odds in India’s first innings.

Although, Australia lost quick wickets on day 2, the hosts did not suffer as big a setback as India did on Thursday, when the visitors were reduced to 41 for 4 at one point. In contrast, the Aussies had put up 87 runs when they lost their fourth wicket in Usman Khwaja off Ashwin’s bowling.

Ashwin finished the day for 50 for 3 while Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets each. For Australia, Head was the only batsman to complete a fifity.

Speaking to reporters in the post match press conference, Ashwin said that the pitch had slowed down considerably on the second day. He said, “I felt the wicket had slowed down considerably and I don’t expect it to quicken up either. It’s going to become slower. This is my second Australian a tour and I was very confident coming here.”

India will play four Test matches against Australia while also locking horns with the hosts in three 50-over One Day Internationals.